Budisatrio Djiwandono, the commander of the National Campaign Team’s (TKN) Bravo Team of Prabowo Gibran, explained that the nation’s self-sufficiency in food will be the top priority if the number 2 pair is elected to lead Indonesia. This is crucial because a food crisis is looming ahead.
“The main sectors targeted for self-sufficiency by Prabowo Gibran are food, water, and energy. In these sectors, we must no longer rely on imports. Specifically regarding food, Mr. Prabowo has stated that food is a matter of life and death for a nation,” said Budisatrio to journalists in Jakarta (Sunday, 13/1).
The leader of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission IV, which oversees agriculture, food, and maritime affairs, explained that Indonesia is currently facing a food deficit due to population growth accompanied by a decrease in land productivity. He cited the crisis that has occurred in rice production.
“BPS data shows that our population increases by about 3 million people every year. And this increase in population has not been accompanied by an increase in agricultural land. Yet rice is consumed by almost all citizens,” he said.
According to Budisatrio, this deficit cannot be covered by relying on imports from abroad.
“Learning from the incident with wheat during the Ukraine-Russia war, the supply chain was disrupted, causing our heavily import-dependent wheat prices to soar. We must not let this happen to rice, which is our main food source,” he said.
To address this, Prabowo Gibran is targeting a minimum increase of four million hectares of agricultural land in a program called the Food Barn.
“This food barn will exist from the smallest level in the villages by the farmers, up to the national level by continuing the food estate. The way to do this is by increasing crop index, intensifying and utilizing abandoned land,” Budisatrio explained.
“Digital technology for agriculture will also be a priority. We will create new fields and at the same time increase the productivity of existing land with digital and modern tools and technology. There is no other choice, this must be done,” he added.
In the context of the presidential election, Budisatrio urged that the food crisis be a healthy discussion topic because it is related to the future of the country.
“The commitment to the issue of food should be a common agreement. We actually look forward to a variety of ideas to deal with the food crisis from each pair of candidates. From Prabowo Gibran’s side, it is clear that we will continue the food estate and improve it into the Food Barn,” concluded Budisatrio. (SENOPATI)
